XBOX 360 Advantages

Here's a break down of the many things that you can do with an Xbox360. Microsoft doesn't tell you everything your Xbox360 is capable of. Some possibilities are from 3rd parties and therefore not mention on Xbox.com or your dashboard. Here's a breakdown of the feature's/options in some detail. Check out the top 23 things your Xbox360 can do, starting with the best one 1st.

1. Sharing Media with Windows Media Center

If your a gamer then you knew this already, but did you know that it's features have options too. If your not a gamer then media sharing on the Xbox360 is possible streaming media from your computer. Most people with Windows based PCs share media with their Xbox360 with Windows Media Center. (installed on Windows Vista Premium/Ultimate & Windows 7 only) There are dozens of media servers that can do the same task. Recently media servers have been springing up almost everyday. YourXbox360 comes equipped with the necessary software, it's your PC that might need an upgrade for pinnacle performance.

Here's a video that shows you how to navigate Media sharing for Windows based PCs. Our #1 choice was Windows Media Center on the Windows 7 OS.

Online media servers allow you to stream predated content, podcast, radio stations, music, videos and movies in their entirety. This is possible from a server on the internet to your PC is connected to and then streams to your Xbox360 console.

Here's a list of Online media servers that allow Xbox360 streaming capabilities.

A. TVersity is an open source (FREE) application with additional pro features that adds more capabilities. Stream shows shows, podcast, movies and anything else you can think of. Tversity is the #1 downloaded Media server on the internet.

Click here to go to Tversity download page

Here's a video that shows you how to apply Tversity to your Xbox360.

Here are some other Online media servers besides Tversity.

Both are free and quick download.

B. Orb

C. Google Media server

D. Vuze

The USB ports on an Xbox360 allow you to charge devices and give power to USB devices. If you have a cell phone that has a cord that connects to your computer then most likely it charges on your Xbox360. Here's a list of rechargeable devices and devices your xbox can power up.

1. USB ported cell phones. If it has a cord so that you can plug into a computer then that means that it's USB recharegable. Anything with a USB port can recharge devices. The Xbox console has two USB ports. The newer version has 4.

Here's a sample of some USB rechargeable cell phones + smartphones

Sanyo Motorola Iphone Swerves Blackberry Rumor LGs and many more.

2. Charge your Ipod

3. Navigation system recharge with USB extension.

4. Digital photo frames

5. USB night lights

6. USB keyboard

7. Playstation 3 remote controllers

8. Recharge your batteries (new technology-USB rechargeable batteries called USBCELL)

9. Rechargable MP3 players like Zune

10. USB rechargeable cameras

11. USB rechargeable PDAs

12. PSPs

If you have an Ipod or Ipad2 it can be plugged into the Xbox360 for music and movie streaming. Just connect to Xbox360 console like you would normally to a computer. Go to your Xbox360 console and go to music library and you will see that the Ipod option has popped up. Any version 360console can pick it up.

If you don't have an Apple device then you can stream the music from your computer. Also a second option is to listen to the Last FM app on your Xbox360. Last FM is a free service that allows you to search and create stations. You must create the stations from your computer and sign into your account on the Xbox.

With Xbox360's new technology called Kinect you can now exercise with Yoga and fitness games. It's like the Wii amped. Learn about Kinect today.

Also if you have kids it's a great way to burn off their energy. If your need excercise in your life then just playing the games can be a work out.

For those of you who use Twitter or Facebook for business reasons then the Xbox360 is a comfortable substitute to sending tweets. Facebook and Twitter is already in your profile, you just sign in with your credentials or create an account. You have to be an Xbox360 live member to use the free applications. You can attach a USB keyboard (preferably a wireless one) and sit back on the couch and socially network.

With your Xbox live subscription you get to watch ESPN. Stream live games or watch a game that you might have missed. It's like a sporty Tevo. Watch sports from all over the word that air on the ESPN Network. It's all free and comes with a Xbox live subscription.

Check out the website to see more features

Of course you can simply watch movies but it's HD. If your got a flat screen or plasma the picture is stunning with a HDMI cord. (not available for some arcade consoles which are the older models)

There are various commercial ways to watch movies on your Xbox360

1. If you have a Netflix account then you can access your account on an Xbox360. The advantage of that is that you get to stream way more movies than they'll ever send to house in 1 month. If you have a Zune then you can do the same and share purchased movies.

2. Zune is a MSN application that allows you to stream or buy music, TV shows & movies. You purchase Microsoft points to buy media. Zune can be downloaded onto her computer and used as an app and MP3 player.

3. HULU Plus offers movies, TV shows and documentaries similar to Netflix. Recently Netflix has raised their prices and Hulu Plus offers service at what Netflix use to charge @ $7.99

4. Recently introduced by MS, HUDU and Vulu joined the Xbox network offering a bigger library for the console.

At this point this only works with Windows 7, Vista Ultimate and Vista Premium which all have Windows Media Center which is how you will access the files.

It is possible for you to play Super Nintendo games on your Xbox360 using the controller and not a computer. This technology of playing Nintendo games and other retro games has been public for a while. A retro gaming console like Nintendo is known as an emulator and its games are known as ROMS. You have to download the SNES emulator first then go and get ROMS afterward. 

Here's a video that teaches you how to do it.

If your the type to keep up with the times then streaming the news is something to do with an Xbox360. Tversity allows you to stream content from Youtube and many other video networks like it. You can add your own list of videos to stream. Best of all Tversity allows you to get feeds which we can't get enough of.

Yes people, I went there. Truth is watching porn is not illegal if your of age. Your PC can share videos you store on your hard drive with your Xbox360 using programs like Zune. Simply download Zune (free) onto your PC and then add your downloaded porn to your Zune folders. On your Xbox360 console go to my videos and you'll see the Zune link then folders.

If Karaoke is something you like to do with your family and friends then the Xbox live experience does the job. Karaoke revolution is an Xbox360 game that lets you do just that with 100+ songs so far. Read more here about Karaoke Revolution

Yes, Xbox360 live has a film club for movie fanatics that gives them chances to preview movies before anyone else.

Your Xbox360 writes blogs about and there is a website that publishes the content. There's more to it and it gets better. You can challenge your friends and start groups. Check out the website and read on. True gamers this one is for you.

Visit 360voice.com and get your free blog today

The Xbox360 comes with a dual videos cables in which one pair is for HD and the yellow cord is a regular video/audio output. Attaching the separate wires to separate TVs/screens can give you movies, music or games from two sources.

Xbox360 live vision is a camera attachment feature. You might want to take pictures for many reasons and a Xbox360 can do it too. You can use vision to still pictures or make personalized gamer pictures. You even use it to add a picture to your dashboard background.

This might come in handy for many reasons. Maybe for work or just a family together. All you need a is USB flash drive or thumb stick with pictures on it and plug into the USB adapter on your Xbox360.

With Tversityyou can add radio station website feeds to your Xbox360. It's real simple. Just add the feed as you would a site's link.

You can play music you download onto your Xbox360 console while playing a game. This is quite convenient if having friends over and say your playing the UNO game and playing music you don't have to switch between devices.

With the so many things that you can do with the Xbox360 console you can keep a kid or two out the way for a while. Truth is its fun and addicting and keeps growing better. A lot of grown-ups have Xbox360's but it's the kids who play it most. Cartoons galore for toddlers on Netflix or streaming from your PC is a good one for me.

For those of you with Apple computers connecting to an Xbox360 is easy with software. I know of 2 good ones and one is free.

1. Elgato (free)

2. nullriver

Yes! Imagine a small based business having to spend money on equipment for video conferences, why not use XBOXs and the Xbox Live community. I'm pretty sure it'll be cheaper. Put an Xbox and screen in a boardroom and anyone else with an Xbox can join the conference.

Microsoft & Xbox has recently rolled out 2 reward programs. With Xbox rewards you can take a survey every month and get 20 microsoft points added to your account. Use these points to buy games, DLCs, and avatar items. (allow 45 days for addition) Microsoft also has the Bing bar rewards where you get points (not microsoft) that can be converted into Microsoft points or used towards other great prizes.

Check out Xbox live rewards here

Check out Microsoft rewards here (must download Bing Bar)

One of Xbox's latest features is the ability to stream Youtube videos. Unlike the other video/movie apps, Youtube is free.

And finally the 25th but not the least. You can now search your Xbox using Bing search bar as your search engine. It can also search for merchandise, games and demos. Use it to search for music even to a EHD (external hard drive).